How Does Mass Media Shape the Public's Agenda of Issues?

The mass media shapes the public's agenda of issues through ethics. The media has created numerous ways of deciding what is morall acceptable and also clarifying right from wrong. However it is never an easy decision. The media shapes the publics view on issues because of the way they handle issues of their own. The media is seen to be a role model for many people. When the media makes a mistake it is taken very seriously and people will react to not only the mistake, but the steps taken to move on and learn from it. The media has created codes of ethics and other various methods to help keep themselves from getting out of hand. These ethics codes are what drive the public to better understand what is right from wrong and morally accptable. The media sets a standard for what is socailly acceptable and understanding issues of ethics is no different. When dealing with ethics and morals it is hard to leave personal beliefs at the door, but it has to be done. The media keeps an objective outlook to anything that deals with ethics to look out for the common good of the public. John Mills had the best idea when creating the theory that whichever outcome benefits the most people will dictate which option to chose. The public in turn will apply the media's theories to their daily lives, in most cases.